Cyclometer clock



y 1954 A. A. JOHNSON CYCLOMETER CLOCK Filed Aug. 18. 1950 Patented July 27, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CYCLOMETER CLOCK Arthur A. Johnson, Bridgeport, Conn., asslgnor to Casco Products Corporation, Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application August 18, 1950, Serial No. 180,129

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to cyclometer clocks and particularly to improvements concerning the positioning of the numeral wheels in desired reading location.

A feature of the invention is the provision of improved detent means for holding the wheels in reading positions and preventing overthrow or frictional drag of the wheels beyond the desired line of reading in the operation of carrying-over from a lower denomination to a higher.

Another feature is the provision of means whereby the reading line of the wheels may be adjusted to bring it to a desired position in reference to the casing and operating mechanism for the wheels. The provision of such means enables the same operating mechanism and wheel controlling mechanism to be used with casings having sight-openings in different angular positions, either such differences as are inherent in mass production of like casings or intentional differences permitting the clock to be read from different angles, for instance from the top or from the front of the casing. The provision of such means also permits the line of reading to be adjusted to suit the convenience of the user and when so arranged a shield having a sight-opening defining the line of reading may be adjusted with the wheel controlling means with reference to an opening in the casing extending over a wide angle for instance from the horizontal to the vertical.

In the form of the invention disclosed herein as exemplary thereof the operating mechanism for the wheels comprises a synchronous electric motor and suitable gearing driving a so-called seconds wheel. Each time the seconds wheel makes one revolution, as the zero designation thereon approaches the sight-opening, it is coupled to the units-of-minutes wheel so that the latter is moved one step to present a new number at the sight-opening. This coupling is effected by a cam which is so located with respect to the location of the coupling member on the seconds wheel that the carry-over occurs when the movement for one minute is completed at the sightopening. The other wheels are coupled when they complete a cycle of numbers to the next higher wheel by similar coupling devices. Each coupling operates the next.

The wheel controlling mechanism also includes detent means for holding the wheels with their numerals aligned at the sight-opening or line of reading.

In carrying out this invention, the detent means and the time-controlled wheel advancing means Lil are mounted for adjustable movement as a unit and thus by moving this unit the carry-over point and the line-of-reading may be adjusted to a predetermined position with reference to the casing and the operating mechanism for the wheels. This permits a great flexibility in design of the casing with one standard operating and wheel controlling means and as pointed out below, permits the line of reading to be universally adjusted over a wide angle if desired.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a transverse or front-to-rear vertical sectional view through the improved clock of the present invention, taken on a plane adjacent the left end of the clock casing when viewed from the front.

F 2 is a vertical sectional View taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an axial sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view like Fig. l, but showing a modification of the invention wherein the casing is provided with a large viewing window behind which the aligned numbers of the wheels may be located in various positions.

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of the clock shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view of the left end of the clock, showing the locking and adjusting means for positioning the aligned numbers in various places behind the window of. the casing; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail of the driving gear and shaft for the seconds wheel, and the bearing therefor.

As shown in Figs, 1, 2 and 3, the casing to has a window or sight-opening ll through which numerals on the peripheries of a seconds wheel l2, a units-of-minutes wheel 13, a tens-of-minutes wheel l4, and an hour wheel l5 are displayed to indicate time. The numeral wheels are mounted in a frame secured to the casing and carrying a synchronous motor l6 and driving mechanism therefor including a pinion I6a engaging a gear l2a on a shaft 42 to which the seconds wheel 12 is secured. The shaft 42 extends between and has bearings in vertical arms 39 and 40 on the frame 45.

When the seconds wheel I2 completes a cycle, one revolution in the form shown, a coupling pin IT on the wheel I 2 engages'a normally stationary cam 23 and is moved laterally against the tension of a spring 20 to the position shown in Fig. 3

where it engages a notch in the side of the unitsof-minutes wheel 13 and carries the latter with it sufiiciently to move the wheel l3 to bring the next number thereon to the sight-opening. When the tens-of-minutes wheel I4 is to be advanced, a pin [8 on the wheel [3 couples it to the wheel [4, and when the wheel I4 is in position to carryover to the hour wheel [5 a pin [9 on the wheel [4 engages the hour wheel to advance it one step. In the position shown in Fig. 3, the wheels 13' and [4 would be moving between 59 and 00.

When the pin I! has passed beyond the cam, it and any of the other pins which it may operate are returned to uncoupling position by the springs 20, 2| and 22 respectively.

The carry-over mechanism above described is described and claimed in the co-pending applica tion of Lucien C. Wuischpard filed October 12, 1946, Serial No. 702,983, now Patent 2,549,556, issued April 17, 1951.

According to the present invention an improved detent means is provided for the wheels l3, l4 and [5 to insure proper alignment of the numbers thereof when the Wheels are at rest, and to complete the carry-over movements of the wheels and prevent overthrow thereof.

From Figs. 2 and 4, it will be seen that the wheels l3, l4 and I5 have alternate depressions 24 and projections 25 extended circumferentially around them. For cooperation with said depressions and projections, I provide novel detent springs 26 carried on a bar 2'! which is mounted to be normally stationary with respect to the easing Ill.

The springs are preferably flat and are secured to the inside of the bar 21 extending downwardly in a loop and then upwardly to lie against the surface of the wheels, the loop portion giving greater flexibility to the springs than could otherwise be had.

The detent springs 26 have protuberant portions 28 provided with opposed sloping surfaces 29 and 30 which enter and engage depressions 24 of the wheels. The springs 26 also have recessed portions 3| adjacent the protuberant portions 23, provided with opposed sloping surfaces 32 and 33 receiving and engaging the projections 25 of the wheels.

Preferably the protuberant portions of the springs are curved and closely fit the depressions in the wheels, which are also curved. I have found that detent springs formed as above described are extremely advantageous in properly and accurately positioning the wheels of the clock when the latter are at rest, and also in completing the movements of the wheels to their at-rest positions. The recessed portions 3! of the springs function to yieldably hold the wheels accurately in the positions required for alignment of the wheel numbers to indicate the time. While the protuberant portions 28 of the springs function to complete the movements of the wheels to their reading positions, the hook-like portions 33 enga ing the advancing sides of the rojections prevent overthrow of the wheels and hold the wheels from being frictionally dragged in the operation of adjacent wheels.

It will be seen from the above that the location of the detent 26 controls the positioning of the wheels with reference to the reading line in the casing, and that the cam 23 controls the place where the carry-over takes place.

According to the present invention, in order to change the position of the line-of-reading f the wheels I3, 14 and I with relation to the casing and the frame 25 carrying the wheels of the operating mechanism, bar 21 on which the detents are mounted and the carry-over control cam 23 are carried by arms 39 and 40 rotatably mounted on the shaft 42 so that they may be swung as a unit about the axis of the shaft. Thus, if the casing [0 in which the mechanism is to be mounted happens to have the sight-opening or window H a little higher than normally, it is merely necessary to rotate the arms 39 and 40 until the numerals on the wheels are properly positioned in the opening.

To lock the wheel controlling mechanism in adjusted position, the arm 39 in the form of the invention shown is provided with a locking screw 39a which extends through a slot 44 in the side plate of the frame 45. By loosening the screw 39a and using it as a handle, the arms 39 and 40 may be rotated the desired amount, and when the screw is again tightened the head of the screw engages the side plate of the frame 45 and holds the mechanism in adjusted position.

If the screw 39a has a tight-fitting thread and is left only partly tightened to enable it to slip under force, and if the casing II] has an opening at the top as indicated at i la, then by inserting a hook or other tool through the opening the wheel-controlling mechanism may be rotated whatever extent is necessary'to bring the line of reading of the wheels to accurately located position in the sight-opening. The movement of the wheel-controlling mechanism will be through an angle of in the form shown.

By the use of the wheel-controlling mechanism of the present invention, further advantage may be obtained with reference to the place at which the time may be read, for it now becomes possible to construct a device in which the line-of-' reading may be varied over a wide angle, for instance as much as 90 in the form shown in Fig. 4. For this purpose, the casing 31 may be provided with a sight-opening or large window 36 extending from the front of the casing to the top of the casing through any portion of which the numbers can be read. However, in order to restrict the reading to one row of numbers on thewheels, that is to say, to the numbers indicating the correct time, in this form of the invention the wheel-controlling means is provided with a shield 43 having a sight-opening 43a in it and extending on each side of the sight-opening a sufiicient distance to cover the window 36, except for the line of numerals to be read. Thus, according to the invention as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, by loosening the screw 46 which passes through a slot 39 in the casing and using the head 41 of the screw as a handle, the wheel-controllin'g means and the shield 43 associated therewith may be adjusted from a position in which the sight opening 43a is horizontal con-- tinuing through various intermediate positions to a position where the sight-opening 43a is vertical.

This adjustment of the reading line of the clock is an important consideration, especially when it is desired to have one structure which may be used as a table clock and as a wall clock, for as a table clock the line of reading might desirably be horizontal, or at least nearly so, while in a Wall clock the reading line should be displaced, 90 more or less.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the frame comprising the bar 2'! and the arms 39 and 40 is locked in its adjusted position against the frame 45, while in the form shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 the adjustable frame is locked in relation to the cas-- ing and screw 35 merely passes through an arcuate slot as in the frame 45. The frame may, therefore, be adjusted from the exterior of the casing.

The arms 39 and ill of the adjustable frame may be tied together by a sleeve ll on the shaft e2 as well as by the bar 2?.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. A cyclometer clock comprising a casing having a sight-opening; wheels therein having numerals thereon for indicating time by alignment of the numerals at the sight-opening in the casing; carry-over means for advancing said wheels coordinately step-by-step with relation to the casing sight opening at different rates; detent means for holding the wheels with the numerals thereof in alignment at the sight-opening in time relation; and means adjustably mounting said carry-over means and said detent means for rotary movement as a unit to simultaneously adjust the Wheels to bring the aligned numerals thereon in desired position in the casing with relation to the sight-opening.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, in which the sight-opening in the casing extends over a Wide angle, and a shield having an auxiliary sight-opening defining a line-of-reading is mounted to move with said means for adjustably mounting the carryover means and the detent means,

3. A cyclometer clock comprising a casing having a sight-opening; wheels in the casing, having numerals for indicating time by alignment of said numerals at the sight-opening in the casing yieldable detent means for controlling the wheels to bring the numerals thereof into alignment at the sight-opening in time-indicating relation; and means adjustably mounting said detent means whereby the wheels may be adjusted to position the aligned numeral thereon in desired position in the casing with relation to the sightopening.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3, in which the sight-opening in the casing extends over a wide angle, and a shield having an auxiliary sight-opening defining a line-of-reading is mounted to move with said means for adjustably mounting the detent means.

5. A cyclometer clock comprising a casing having a sight-opening; wheels in the casing, having numerals for indicating time by alignment of said numerals at the sight-opening in the easing; a timing motor; means connected to said motor for advancing said wheels step-by-step including a movement initiating cam; detent means for controlling the wheels to bring them into alignment at the sight-opening in time-indicating relation; and means adjustably mounting said cam and said detent means whereby the wheels may be adjusted to position the aligned numerals thereon in desired position in the casing with relation to the sight-opening.

6. A cyclometer clock comprising a casing having a sight-opening; wheels in the casing, having numerals for indicating time by alignment of the numerals at the sight-opening in the casing; a timing motor; means connected to said motor for advancing said wheels step-by-step; detent means comprising a bar and a spring for each step-by-step moving wheel, mounted on said bar for controlling the wheels to bring them into alignment at the sight-opening in time-indicating relation; and means adjustably mounting said advancing means and said detent spring carry ing bar whereby the wheels may be adjusted to position the aligned numerals thereon in desired position in the casing with relation to the sightopening.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6, in which the sight-opening in the casing extends over a wide angle and a shield having an auxiliary sight-opening defining a line-of-reading is connected to said spring carrying bar to move therewith.

8. A cyclometer clock: comprising a casing having a sight opening; wheels in the casing, having numerals for indicating time by alignment of said numerals at the sight-opening in the casing; a timing motor; means connected to said motor for advancing said wheels step-by-step including a movement-initiating cam; detent means comprising a bar and a spring for each step-by-step moving wheel, mounted on said bar for controlling the wheels to bring them into alignment at the sight-opening in time-indicating relation; and means adjustably mounting said cam and said detent spring carrying bar whereby the wheels may be adjusted to position the aligned numerals thereon in desired position in the casing with relation to the sight-opening.

9. A cyclometer clock comprising a casing having a sight opening; a unitsof-minutes wheel; a tens-of-minutes Wheel; an hour wheel, said wheels being disposed in the casing and bearing numerals on the peripheries; detent means, one for each Wheel, for yieldingly holding the Wheels with their numerals in alignment to be read at the sight-opening in the casing; carry-over means for advancing each higher-order wheel as the highest numeral on the next lower-order wheel passes said sight-opening; and means adjustably mounting said carry-over means and said detent means for rotary movement as a unit to simultaneously adjust the wheels to bring the aligned numerals thereon in desired position in the casing with relation to the sight-opening.

References E'Jited in the file of this patent 

